CONTACT:
Dan Bergeron: (603) 271-2461
Andy Timmins: (603) 271-2461
March 6, 2025
Concord, NH – The New Hampshire Fish and Game Department NHFG) will hold three public hearings regarding the 2025-2026 hunting and trapping season rules proposals as follows:
- March 27, 2025 – Keene High School, Room 620, 43 Arche Street, Keene, NH. This hearing begins at 6:00 p.m.
- April 1, 2025 – The New Hampshire Fish and Game Department’s Region 1, 629B Main Street, Lancaster, NH. This hearing begins at 6:00 p.m.
- April 2, 2025 – The New Hampshire Fish and Game Department Headquarters, 11 Hazen Drive, Concord, NH. This hearing begins at 6:00 p.m.
Changes are recommended every 2 years to ensure that season dates and bag limits align with species population goals reflected in the state’s 10-year Game Management Plan (2016-2025). Proposed revisions are based on a review of field data and other scientific information.
The complete rulemaking notice can be viewed by visiting www.wildlife.nh.gov/proposed-rules.
The following are selected highlights of the proposed 2025-2026 wildlife rules package, however this is not a complete list.
New Hampshire’s regional bear, turkey, and deer populations are stable or increasing. Thus, NHFG proposes additional hunting opportunities in various regions of the state for select species.
Deer: New Hampshire’s 2024 deer seasons resulted in the sixth highest adult buck harvest and twelfth highest total harvest in the state’s history. The rules proposals call for increased hunting opportunity in 16 of the 20 Wildlife Management Units (WMUs) in the state. These opportunities include additional either-sex hunting opportunities in WMUs A, B, C1, C2, D2E, D2W, E, F, G1, H1, H2, I1, J1, J2, L, and M. In addition, NHFG proposes an increase in the number of special Unit L tags to 3,500 and that the issuance of these permits occurs on a first-come, first-served basis. This proposal would eliminate the lottery process for special Unit L tags, making permit allocation similar to the special Unit M tags. Proposed changes also expand the areas where crossbows may be used during the archery season for deer, and remove reciprocity requirements for nonresident youth during youth deer weekend.
Bear: The 2024 statewide bear harvest represented a new record high. The state is divided into six bear management regions, of which just half have estimated bear populations that are consistent with species population goals, and bear densities in three regions remain higher than their prescribed numbers. During this rulemaking process, NHFG proposes to extend the length of the still hunting season in the Southwest-2 region. Proposed season lengths in all other regions would remain consistent with previous years. An additional proposed rule would require that in areas where an additional bear may be taken (i.e., WMUs C1, D2, E, or F), the first bear harvested must be registered prior to taking an additional bear.
Turkey: Above average rainfall during spring and summer of 2023 appeared to have a significant impact on overall nesting success and turkey productivity. This resulted in a reduced spring harvest in 2024, and it is anticipated to impact the 2025 spring turkey season too. Because of this decline and established thresholds in the current Game Management Plan, NHFG is advising a conservative season structure in select WMUs and proposing to remove the allowance of a second spring bird in WMU I1. A second spring turkey would still be allowed in WMUs H1, H2, J2, K, L, and M. Additionally, NHFG proposes the removal of the fall shotgun season in WMUs G and I2. Fall shotgun would remain open in WMUs D2, H1, H2, I1, J2, K, L, and M.
Moose: The Department recommends the issuance of 35 either-sex moose permits for the fall 2025 moose season. Of these, 1 permit will be allocated for the New Hampshire Wildlife Federation’s Dream Hunt Program and 1 permit will be issued for use by the New Hampshire Wildlife Heritage Foundation.
The 2025–2026 rule proposal package would also:
- Establish special youth hunting days for pheasants on the last weekend in September.
- Extend the season closure on pheasant stocking days until 2:00 p.m.
- Extend the hunting season length and increase the bag limit for eastern cottontails.
- Required online registration (reporting) of furbearers taken by hunting.
- Move the application deadline for the state lands trapping lottery approximately 3 weeks earlier.
- Require that licensed leashed dog trackers have a New Hampshire firearms license and establish a reporting deadline of 12 hours upon completion of a track.
Updates on the 2025–2026 biennial season-setting process can be found by visiting www.wildlife.nh.gov/proposed-rules.
